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No. 61 Grove, Marine Base on Sabaody Archipelago.
"Hahahaha! How is it, Smoker? Are you satisfied with the environment here?"
A hearty and boisterous laugh echoed from the reception room.
Kicking back on the sofa with a large bag of donuts in hand, Garp sat casually with his legs crossed.
Across from him, shrouded in smoke, Smoker bit down on a lit cigar, donning the classic Marine captain's "Justice" coat.
Compared to the clean and dignified atmosphere of Loguetown, Smoker, who had been in Sabaody for only a dozen days, looked considerably more haggard. A deep scar was clearly visible at the corner of his eye.
Anyone who successfully navigated the perilous islands to reach this endpoint of the first half of the Grand Line was no ordinary pirate, certainly not comparable to the weaklings of the East Blue!
Moreover, the intricate crimes of human trafficking, slave auctions, and underground dealings inherent to Sabaody Archipelago left the justice-driven Smoker at his wits' end.
Especially since these crimes were, in some way or another, linked to the Shichibukai Doflamingo or even the Celestial Dragons!
Having witnessed the world's filth firsthand, Smoker's sense of powerlessness grew stronger, reinforcing his determination to rise to a higher position.
Under these circumstances, his usually straightforward self had learned to be tactful and patient.
Publicly, he fought the heinous pirates, while secretly, he was preparing a plan to abolish the legal slave auctions on Sabaody.
Unfortunately, the forces involved were too formidable, and having just arrived, he hadn't yet established a solid foothold. Without the right opportunity, realizing this plan would be as difficult as climbing to the sky.
—Although climbing to the sky wouldn't be much of a challenge for someone with the Smoke-Smoke Fruit...
Ahem, in short, both in strength and mentality, Smoker had grown significantly since arriving in Sabaody.
"Vice Admiral Garp, please don't tease me."
Thinking of Sabaody's complexities, Smoker let out a heavy sigh, exhaling a thick smoke ring.
"I wouldn't do such a demeaning thing."
Garp grabbed a handful of donuts and stuffed them into his mouth, his gaze at Smoker becoming more serious. "Smoker, if it's you, I believe you can bring some good changes to Sabaody."
"That's precisely why Sengoku recommended you to Kong, that old geezer."
Calling Fleet Admiral Kong an old geezer so openly...
Smoker felt like retorting but ultimately held back his words.
The pressure brought by the Marine hero was indeed overwhelming.
"Yes, I understand!"
Seeing Smoker so solemn, Garp laughed heartily again. "No need to be so serious. We're here in Sabaody to visit an old friend, not for any direct work-related matters."
"Speaking of which, you and Vice Admiral Kuzan came here..."
At this point, Smoker paused, glancing at the tall man sunbathing outside the reception room, wearing an eye mask.
"It's to find Silvers Rayleigh, right?"
As the stationed officer here, he had naturally received news about the former vice-captain of the Pirate King hiding on the island.
For Garp and Kuzan, both highly powerful vice admirals, to be dispatched, it could only be for that man.
"That's right." Garp nodded slightly.
"Should we cooperate to evacuate the island's residents in advance?" Smoker asked with concern.
If a conflict broke out between such powerful individuals, the entire Sabaody Archipelago could be destroyed!
"No need to worry, we're just here to verify the authenticity of the news."
Garp's cheeks were bulging with donuts, and he spoke indistinctly, "With the Red-Haired Pirates rising to power, the Yonko of the New World are in turmoil. It's not the right time to expend considerable strength dealing with a retired old man."
"I see."
Just as Smoker began to feel relieved, the Den Den Mushi in the room rang with an urgent sound.
A sense of foreboding suddenly arose in Smoker's heart.
He pressed the button to connect the call.
"Captain Smoker! We've received news from No. 1 Grove that the slave auction house has captured Silvers Rayleigh!"
"What did you say?!" Smoker's mouth twitched.
"Hahahaha, auctioning Silvers Rayleigh, this is quite a show!" Garp laughed so hard that wrinkles formed at the corners of his eyes.
At that moment, the voice of the Marine on the other end came through again.
"Also, East Blue Hero Zyhark has also been sold to the auction house."
The Marine in charge of No. 1 Grove was one of Smoker's elite subordinates from Loguetown, which was why he recognized Zyhark, the owner of the Endless Dream.
"Zyhark?!!"
Garp's laughter abruptly stopped, and he exclaimed in surprise, "That brat is here too?"
The donut crumbs from his mouth sprayed all over Smoker's face.
Rayleigh's activities on Sabaody were somewhat understandable given his behavior.
But Zyhark? That was truly unexpected.
Smoker wiped the crumbs off his face with his hand, unable to comprehend why Zyhark would get involved in such a mess.
A man of his caliber didn't seem like someone who would be caught and sold at an auction!
…
A little earlier in time.
No. 1 Grove, underground cells of the slave auction house.
With a slave collar around his neck, Zyhark was escorted by two burly men through the dark and narrow passage.
The cells on either side were incredibly oppressive.
To buy alcohol for Aqua and having no money to pay, he willingly sold himself, with Shakky selling him to the auction house for eighty thousand Berries.
As an experienced individual, Shakky naturally knew what Zyhark was up to, but she didn't expose him.
Not to mention, she didn't sense any malice from him. Even if he had ill intentions, she didn't believe he could pose any threat to Rayleigh at this point.
More than anything, she was curious to see what this young and formidable man intended to do! Inside the cells, slaves of various appearances, sizes, and races hung their heads, lifeless, not even curious to look at the new "inmate."
Having fallen to the status of a commodity, why would they care about another item?
"Guys, this cell will do, thanks."
Stopping in front of a dimly lit cell and recognizing Rayleigh sitting inside, Zyhark halted.
"No problem, go in."
The two burly men glanced at Rayleigh inside and opened the cell without hesitation.
The reason they listened to the "commodity" was simple: Zyhark had slipped a little something into their pockets when he arrived.
As for why he still had money left after being sold to the auction house, that wasn't their concern.
With a slave collar that could be detonated at any moment, his fate was already sealed! Click, click.
The sound of shackles scraping against the ground echoed in the quiet underground prison as Zyhark calmly walked to Rayleigh's side and slowly sat down against the rough wall.
Rayleigh's eyes moved slightly, landing on Zyhark.
"Young man, do you need something?"
Zyhark mimicked his posture, a smile forming on his lips as he got straight to the point.
"Silvers Rayleigh, I've wanted to meet you for a long time."
Rayleigh: "???"
(End of Chapter)